Opioid Addiction Treatment

Opioid drugs like heroin and strong prescription painkillers are highly addictive. If you want to overcome an addiction to drugs like these, visit Anne-Marie Odo, DNP, at Semper Healthcare Services in Addison, Texas. Dr. Odo and her team provide specialized opioid addiction treatment, combining medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone with expert drug counseling. Call Semper Healthcare Services today to see if you can benefit from opioid addiction treatment or book an appointment by completing the online form.

What is opioid addiction?

Opioid addiction is a disorder that develops when you come to depend on opioid drugs. Opioids relieve pain, numb your mind and body, and trigger euphoria. Heroin is a well-known illegal opioid, but many others are prescription medications used to treat patients with moderate-to-severe pain. Common forms of prescription opioids include:

• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Oxymorphone
• Morphine
• Codeine
• Tramadol
• Fentanyl

Doctors frequently prescribe opioids for chronic pain. However, these drugs are addictive, leading to an opioid misuse crisis.

The longer you’re on opioids, the less effective they are. Your body gets used to the drug’s effects, so you need higher doses to achieve the same results. In time, you must take your chosen opioid just to function daily.

Why do I need opioid addiction treatment?

You would benefit from opioid addiction treatment if you’ve been using prescription opioids or heroin and feel unable to cope without them. You might take more than your prescribed dose and turn to illegal sources when your prescription isn’t enough. If you stop taking your opioids, you experience withdrawal symptoms that could include:

• Sweating
• Shaking
• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Confusion
• Dizziness

The distressing physical symptoms are difficult to tolerate, added to which you suffer from cravings — an undeniable urge to obtain and use your chosen opioid. At this point, many people slip back into opiate abuse.

Overcoming any addiction is tough and often results in relapses. Having dedicated experts like the Semper Healthcare Services team supporting you can make all the difference. They understand the barriers to recovery from addiction and offer comprehensive treatment, plus funding for those who qualify.

What does opioid addiction treatment involve?

The Semper Healthcare Services team uses medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to treat opioid addiction. This approach combines expert drug counseling with medications that ease withdrawal symptoms.

Two of the leading FDA-approved treatment options for addiction available at Semper Healthcare Services include.

Suboxone

Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) plays a vital role in opioid withdrawal. Suboxone is a fixed-dose combination medication that mimics how addictive opioids work without giving you euphoric highs and devastating lows. This medication is usually given as a dissolvable tablet.

Vivitrol

Vivitrol (naltrexone) has a similar effect as Suboxone, allowing you to safely detox from opioids without difficult withdrawal symptoms. Vivitrol is administered via an intramuscular injection once a month by your healthcare provider.

Your provider guides and supports you throughout the withdrawal process and for as long as you need afterward, including counseling and follow-up services.

To learn more about freeing yourself with Semper Healthcare Services’ opioid addiction treatment, call the office today or book an appointment online.